He leaned in slightly, his expression mock-serious. "A conversation with you is like a verbal obstacle course. I've gotta dodge the sharp comebacks, jump over the sarcasm, and keep my balance with the charm. It's intense."

I bit back a smile, pretending to inspect my nails. "Well, you're doing okay so far. Barely."

"Okay? Barely?" He leaned back, his hand over his heart as if I'd wounded him. "Yoori, you're harsh. I thought we were building positive energy together."

I rolled my eyes, but there was a warmth in my chest at how easy it was to talk to him. "Alright, fine. You're doing better than okay. Happy?"

"Very," he said, his grin returning in full force. "So, tell me, do you ever let your guard down, or is this sharp-tongued thing your default setting?"

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Hmm. I'll let my guard down when someone's worth it."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And how does one prove they're worth it?"

I smirked, leaning a little closer. "I don't know, Hanbin. That's for you to figure out."

He looked at me, his expression thoughtful but playful. "Challenge accepted."

We sat there for a moment, the sound of the waves in the distance filling the brief silence. Despite his cheerful demeanor, there was something grounding about Hanbin—a calm steadiness beneath the bright energy. It made the conversation feel easy, unforced.

"So," he said, breaking the quiet. "What's the deal with you and Jinyoung?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "Jinyoung?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "What about him?"

Hanbin shrugged, his tone casual but his eyes curious. "Just noticed the way he was looking at you earlier. He seemed... interested."

I snorted, brushing it off. "Jinyoung looks at everyone like that. It's his default setting."

"Sure, but he wasn't looking at Nadine like that," Hanbin said, his grin turning mischievous. "You didn't even glance back. Cold, Yoori. Very cold."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "Why would I glance back when I was having such a riveting conversation with you?"

Hanbin laughed, clearly delighted. "You're good, Yoori. Really good."

"I know," I said, my tone teasing but confident. "And you're not too bad yourself, Hanbin. Barely."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm gonna win you over, you know."

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Is that your goal?"

"One of them," he said with a wink. "But don't worry. I've got plenty of time."

"Good luck," I said, my voice light but my eyes holding a challenge. "You'll need it."

He laughed again, and for the first time in a while, I felt completely at ease. Hanbin's energy was like a warm light—uncomplicated, genuine, and impossible to resist.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the beach as Yoongjae and I strolled down the sandy path away from the others. The off-pitfire was set up just far enough from the group to feel private but close enough that the faint buzz of their laughter and chatter lingered in the background.

I glanced at Yoongjae, walking beside me, his strong frame casting a long shadow in the afternoon light. He had this quiet, self-assured presence about him—a man who didn't need to say much to command attention. It was annoyingly attractive.

"You're awfully quiet," I teased, glancing up at him with a smirk. "Am I supposed to be doing all the talking here?"

He chuckled, a low, deep sound that felt like it belonged in a late-night confession rather than a casual afternoon chat. "I figured you had plenty to say without my help."

I stopped walking, turning to face him with a mock-serious expression. "Is that your way of calling me a chatterbox?"

His lips twitched into a small smile as he tilted his head. "Not at all. I think it's... charming."

"Charming?" I echoed, arching an eyebrow. "That's the kind of word you use when you don't want to say what you really think."

"Okay," he said, meeting my gaze with a quiet intensity that made my heart skip. "It's intriguing. Better?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his stare. Recovering quickly, I tilted my head, a slow smile curling my lips. "Intriguing is better. But you're still letting me do all the work here. Are you always this quiet, or are you just nervous around me?"

He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Nervous? No. I just like listening."

"Listening," I repeated, my tone teasing. "Is that code for sizing me up?"

"Maybe," he admitted, his smile deepening. "Or maybe I just like hearing what you have to say."

"Well, that's dangerous," I said, stepping closer to him. "Giving me free rein to say whatever I want? You might regret that."

He looked down at me, his dark eyes steady and calm. "I doubt it."

The confidence in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I decided to push a little more, see just how far that quiet composure of his would stretch.

"Alright, Yoongjae," I said, taking another step closer, close enough now that I had to tilt my head to keep looking at him. "What exactly are you hoping to hear from me?"

His gaze flickered down to my lips for the briefest moment before returning to my eyes. "Something honest."

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Honest? That's a rare request. Most people want flattery or entertainment."

"I'm not most people," he replied, his voice steady.

"No," I said softly, my smile turning sly. "You're definitely not."

He didn't say anything, just looked at me with that quiet intensity again, as if he was waiting for me to continue. I liked it. He wasn't trying to fill the silence or steer the conversation—he was just... there, steady and solid, like a mountain.

"Well," I said, deciding to play along, "if you want honesty, I guess I'll have to give it to you. You're handsome, Yoongjae. Very handsome, actually. And you're giving me strong, mysterious vibes, which is both intriguing and a little intimidating."

"Intimidating?" he asked, his lips quirting into a small smile. "You don't seem like someone who gets intimidated easily."

"I don't," I said, my tone light but my eyes holding his. "But you're different. You're quiet. And quiet men are either very boring or very dangerous."

"Which one am I?" he asked, leaning in just slightly, enough to make my breath catch.

"I haven't decided yet," I said, my voice dropping a little. "But I'm leaning toward dangerous."

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Dangerous, huh? Should I be flattered?"

"You should," I said, stepping back just enough to create a little space. "It's not a compliment I give lightly."

"Well, in that case," he said, his smile widening just enough to show a hint of mischief, "thank you. And for the record, I think you're dangerous too."

"Oh?" I asked, my interest piqued. "Do tell."

"You have a way of getting under people's skin," he said, his tone casual but his eyes never leaving mine. "You're sharp, confident, and you know exactly how to get someone's attention. It's dangerous."

I laughed, the sound light and teasing. "So, what you're saying is... you're paying attention?"

He nodded, his smile softening. "I am. And I like what I see."

For the first time in a while, I felt a slight flush rise to my cheeks. He wasn't trying too hard, wasn't laying it on thick—just simple, straightforward honesty. It was disarming.

"Well," I said, turning to continue our walk, "I guess I'll have to keep you intrigued then."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," he said, falling into step beside me. "Not with you."

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, a small smile tugging at my lips. Maybe this date wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The air was warm, the golden light of the afternoon casting long shadows over the sand as I stood there in the middle of the pit fire with Soe and Nadine. Our bags lay at our feet, waiting for the next turn in this strange little game. The tension in the air was thick with expectation, the soft crackling of the fire the only sound breaking the silence.

Soe, as usual, didn't waste any time. Her voice was confident, smooth, and sure. "I choose Hanbin," she said, grinning as she glanced over at him. Hanbin's face lit up, matching her energy. With a quick laugh, they both grabbed their bags and walked off together, disappearing toward paradise with all the excitement of two people who truly enjoyed each other's company.

That left me and Nadine standing there alone, the moment stretching just a bit longer than it needed to. Nadine turned to me, giving me that playful smile she always wore when something was about to go down. I knew she was enjoying this—the anticipation, the teasing, the game. But this was it. It was her turn.

She looked around, her eyes glancing over the remaining contestants before landing on me for a second, as if contemplating something. The dramatic pause only added to the tension in the air. Nadine liked to make people wait, and she knew how to keep an audience on their toes.

"The person I want to be in paradise is..." she said, her voice dipping into that playful, teasing tone. She stopped, letting the silence settle in, making sure we were all waiting with bated breath. She dragged it out, but not for too long.

"Kim Jinyoung."

I bit my tongue to keep myself from reacting. Of course, I couldn't help the small sigh that escaped my lips, but I quickly masked it with a nonchalant shrug. Jinyoung? Really? I mean, I wasn't upset, exactly, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little... indifferent about it. Nadine had chosen him, and while I wasn't shocked, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of irritation. But hey, that wasn't his fault. It wasn't like I was mad at him—just the situation.

I watched as Jinyoung emerged from the tent, bag in hand, the sunlight catching his face just right. His usual calm demeanour made him look effortlessly handsome, and his steps were steady as he made his way over to Nadine, who was standing there with a shy smile, looking every bit the picture of innocent excitement.

For a brief moment, his eyes flickered to mine. Just a second. But in that second, I felt the weight of it, like the air between us grew just a little heavier. My automatic response? A roll of the eyes. I wasn't in the mood for any of this today, and as much as I hated to admit it, the mix of feelings—confusion, frustration, maybe a little jealousy—was more than I cared to unpack.

So, instead of acknowledging the moment, I did what I did best: I turned away. My gaze shifted to the tents, my lips pulling into a tight line. Not his fault. Not his fault at all. But I wasn't here to deal with it right now. Nadine was looking at him like he'd just given her the moon, and for some reason, that irritated me more than I wanted to admit.

I knew I was being ridiculous, but I couldn't help it. And honestly? I didn't care enough to fight it.

As Nadine and Jinyoung walked away towards the helicopter, the sight of them together, the air between them so light and carefree, only made the tension inside me grow. I hated how much it bothered me. Why did it even matter? But, just as quickly as the thought passed, I shoved it aside. This wasn't about them. It was my turn now. My chance to make a choice, and this time, I wasn't going to waste it.

I straightened up, taking a slow, deliberate breath. The fire in my chest was beginning to settle, and the calm certainty I'd always relied on was slowly taking over. It was my moment. And I wasn't about to back down from it.

"The person I want to be in paradise is..." I began, my voice strong and sure, though I paused just long enough to make sure everyone was paying attention. The silence that followed hung in the air like a heavy, unspoken promise. I could feel all eyes on me. This was it. My chance to shift the energy. To reclaim it. To pick someone who would actually make the experience worth it. And when the words finally came, they felt like the perfect, deliberate choice.

"Jo Yoongjae."

___________________________________

My English it's a little bit bad, so if you see any mistakes, please tell me.

SOOOOOOOO, hope you're dying with Jinyoung and Yoori relationship...

Also, I erase Minsu... sorry, I had to...

DRAMA! (Made Jinyoung and Nadine date to happen now since i want Jinyoung to choose Yoori as his last date)

(no comments from the panel. You are the Pannel, so act like it!)

Leave a lot of love and comments! Love you!

Sorry if it's not what you expected!

I wish you liked the fourth chapter. ♡.

- sxfsoojin -